7,357 research outputs found
Rota-Baxter operators on the polynomial algebras, integration and averaging operators
No full textThe concept of a Rota–Baxter operator is an algebraic abstraction of integration. Following this classical connection, we study the relationship between Rota–Baxter operators and integrals in the case of the polynomial algebra k[x]
k[x]
. We consider two classes of Rota–Baxter operators, monomial ones and injective ones. For the first class, we apply averaging operators to determine monomial Rota–Baxter operators. For the second class, we make use of the double product on Rota–Baxter algebras
Sustainable Relations in International Development Cooperation Projects: The Role of Human Resource Management and Organizational Climate
No full textThe importance of organizational issues to assess the success of international development project has not been fully considered yet. An analysis of the literature on the project success definition, focused on the success criteria and success factors, was carried out by surveying the contribution of different authors and approaches. Traditionally projects were perceived as successful when they met time, budget and performance goals, assuming a basic similarity among projects (universalistic approach). However, starting from a non‐universalistic approach, the importance of organization’s effectiveness, in terms of relations sustainability, emerged as a dimension able to define and assess a project success (Belassi W., Tukel O.I., 1996). Based on previous research contributions on the factors influencing the relations between organizations (Zanasi C., Rota C., 2009), the paper expands the analysis of the influence of human resource management on organizational climate that, in turn, influences the relation sustainability between project manager and project team involved in international cooperation for development. A detailed analysis of these relations is provided and a research hypothesis are built. A questionnaire on previous contributions was adapted to collect data for a Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) analysis. Five dimensions of organizational climate (Zeitz G. et al., 1997) (trust, communication, innovation, job challenge, social cohesion), four dimensions of human resource management (Snell S.A., Dean J.W, 1992) (staff recruitment, training, performance appraisal, reward system) and two dimension for sustainable relations (Fisher C., Reynolds N., 2008) (relations quality and strength) are reported and measured by using a 5 point Likert scale. The sample size is still in progress. The first results on internal consistency reliability coefficients (Cronbach’s alpha) are satisfactory
Achaeta etrusca Rota 1995
No full textAchaeta etrusca Rota, 1995 (Figure 4) Achaeta etrusca Rota, 1995, pp. 197–198, figure 8A–C. Achaeta etrusca, Rota et al. 2013, table 1 and figure 3 (species ‘s5’); Rota et al. 2014, tables 1, 2 and Suppl. 1. Material examined Type material. MCZR Oligochaeta 0049–0050, Holotype and one paratype from Italy, Tuscany (Tu-3), Rovine di Castelvecchio (43.4320°N, 11.0052°E, 400 m asl), about 4 km Ν of Castel S. Gimignano, 8 km SW of San Gimignano (Siena). Oak wood on limestone, pH 7.1–7.3, 23.05.1994, E. Rota coll. New material (in the author’ s collection). About 150 specimens from Italy, Campania (Ca-2), plots N1 – N3, 13.05.2009 and 26.10.2009. Nine specimens from Italy, Tuscany (Tu-4), 8– 16.06.2004. Seven specimens from Italy, Tuscany (Tu-5), 24.04.2009 and 05.11.2009. Augmented diagnosis Live body length 2.0– 3.5 mm, width 0.15–0.21 mm at XII. Segments 21–24. Paired knob-like cutaneous gland structures dorsolateral in II– VI (Figure 4A). Clitellum laterodorsally made of hyaline cells irregularly scattered among granular cells, with a narrow middorsal interruption (25 μm); ventrolaterally only granular cells occur; clitellum absent midventrally (gap as wide as the distance between male pores, 64 μm). Secondary pharyngeal glands in V and VI. Pronounced oesophageal loops in IV and VII, visible both in vivo (Figure 4B, C) and in fixed material. Dorsal blood vessel originating in VII and entering directly into VI, i.e. bypassing the oesophageal loop of VII. Three pairs of preclitellar nephridia (6/7–8/9). Sperm funnels 48–53 by 27–35 μm. Sperm heads about 15 μm long, tails 25 μm. Penial bulbs in XII, compact, oval, 32 μm long. One egg mature. Remarks The validity of this species has recently been questioned by Graefe (2007), and its synonymization with A. iberica has been proposed (Schmelz and Collado 2010, 2012). The original description (Rota 1995) mentioned ‘inconspicuous lens-shaped epithelial cells observed dorsolaterally from II’. These words have been misinterpreted as if referring to the lentiform gland cells segmentally punctuating the sides of the body of A. iberica at three distinct levels, but the structures of A. etrusca swell inwards, occur as one dorsolateral pair per segment and are limited to segments II–VI (in segment I, more dorsal and bilobed structures occur, probably of a different nature) (Figure 4A). Thus they would rather seem homologous to the ‘dorsolateral epidermal follicles slightly protruding into the body cavity’ characterizing segments I, III–VI in A. antefolliculata Dózsa-Farkas and Boros, 2005. Differences between A. etrusca and the latter include the number of secondary pharyngeal glands (two vs. one pair) and the pairs of preclitellar nephridia (three vs. two). Distribution This species was discovered originally in oak woodland soil on limestone in central Tuscany. The present new records in the outskirts of Siena and in Capodimonte Park, Naples city, confirm its association to evergreen Mediterranean woodland and scrubland on neutral soils. In Capodimonte Park it appeared equally abundant in spring and autumn.Published as part of Rota, Emilia, 2015, Five new species of Enchytraeidae (Annelida: Clitellata) from Mediterranean woodlands of Italy and reaffirmed validity of Achaeta etrusca, Fridericia bulbosa and F. miraflores, pp. 1987-2020 in Journal of Natural History 49 (33) on pages 1999-2001, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2015.1009514, http://zenodo.org/record/399798
Contribution to an Integrated Analytical Framework for the Study of the Relations between and within Agro-food Firms
No full textThe differences in size, culture and technology that characterise the agro-food firms contribute to make collaborative horizontal and vertical relationships difficult. This negatively influences the supply chains performances. The goal of this study is to contribute to the understanding of the inter- and intra-firms relationships dynamics, in particular the definition of the main variables influencing successful collaborative relationships. A survey on the literature related to Supply Chain Management, local businesses systems (firms cluster, districts), Knowledge Networks, Organisation theory (Human Resource Management, Resource Based View, Culture Organization, Psychological contract) was performed. The main factors influencing the relationship among members and business areas, within the firm, those influencing the inter-firms relationship, and the firm relationship with the economic, social and institutional environment, have been identified. Starting from a classification of these factors, according to their different analytical contexts and theoretical approaches, a logical framework was created. Sustainability and relationships performance emerged as the main latent construct defined by a mix of the variables trust, commitment, satisfaction and collaboration; the nature and role of these variables were analysed, following recent research contributions (Fischer, C., Hartmann, M., Reynolds, N., Leat, P., Revoredo-Giha, C., Henchion, M., Gracia, A. (2008), (Fritz M., Martino G., Surci G,2008). A new hypothesis was formulated, including elements not considered by the previous research contributions, on the factors influencing the variables defining the main latent construct. Three variables were considered: • KSA (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities): latent construct observable through the measurement of five variables: conflict resolution, communication, collaborative problem solving, goal setting and performance management, planning and task coordination (Stevens M.J., Campion M.A., 1994); • Psychological contract: variable influencing the members’ relationship within the firm (Rousseau, 1990); • Human Resource Management: observed by analysing the technical and strategic effectiveness of the Human resource management policies and the human resources capabilities (Huselid M.A., Schuler R.S., 1997). The relationship sustainability will be analysed within different organisations cultures characterising the human resources, the business areas, and the whole of the firm. This will become the context within which our hypothesis on the role of the above mentioned variables will be tested. Future research development should broaden the literature survey on the theoretical framework adding other approaches related mostly to the field of sociology and psychology; from the methodological point of view, the structural equation model (SEM) seems to be the most appropriate analytical tool. The many qualitative variables implied in the theoretical model should be correctly measured in order to be used in a SEM; to this end the literature on measurement scales definition and their relevance for the different types of statistical analysis tool should be examined
Fridericia bargaglii Rota 2015, sp.nov.
No full textFridericia bargaglii sp.nov. (Figures 5–6) Fridericia polychaeta, Rota 1995, p. 215 (partim) Fridericia sp. 3, Rota et al. 2013, tables 1 and figure 3 (species ‘s27’); Rota et al. 2014, tables 1, 2 and Suppl. 1. Type material Holotype. MCZR Oligochaeta 0179, whole-mounted specimen, fully mature. Type locality Italy, Tuscany ( Tu-6 ), Siena city, Orti dei Tolomei (43.3146°N, 11.3324°E, 330 m asl), grass under Laurus nobilis shrubs on yellowish-brown sandy soil, 31.03.2004, E. Rota coll. Paratypes. MCZR Oligochaeta 0180, one whole-mounted submature specimen, from Italy, Tuscany (Tu-8), 01.04.1992. MCZR Oligochaeta 0181, one wholemounted specimen, submature, from Italy, Tuscany (Tu-5), 04.11.1993. SMNH- Types 8723–8724, two whole-mounted specimens, submature, from type locality and date. Other material. Several specimens, whole mounted or fluid preserved, from Italy, Tuscany, loc. Tu-3, Tu-5, Tu-6, Tu-7, Tu-8, Tu-9, Tu-10, in the author’ s collection. Etymology Named for Prof. Roberto Bargagli, for his dedication and achievements in environmental research, and with thankfulness for his enduring friendship and support. Diagnosis Large multisetose species (4÷7 – 6÷2: 4÷7 – 6÷2), clitellar gland cells in indefinite rows, ventrally reduced to a narrow strip behind male pores, extra lobes of pharyngeal glands ventrally in VII, nucleated coelomocytes large and pale, peptonephridia multi-branched at two distinct levels, five pairs of preclitellar nephridia, chylus cells in XIII–XV, dorsal blood vessel from XVIII–XX, large seminal vesicle, sperm funnels elongate conical, male slits I-shaped (longitudinal), subneural glands in XIII–XV, spermathecae large, elongate, with two toe-shaped aciliated diverticula and no distinct ectal gland. Description Colour white-yellowish, paler after storage in alcohol. Live body length 17–28 mm, width about 0.67–0.83 mm at XII; dimensions can be large also in fixed specimens: length 25 mm, width 0.55–0.60 mm at V, 0.8 mm at XII. Segment number 56–73, x = 63.5, s = 6.2 (n = 31). Prostomium 1.2 times longer than peristomium, frontally rounded, blunt conical in a lateral view, dorsally depressed in front of head pore, pointing forwards (Figure 5A). Epidermal sensory buds abundant on prostomium, segments I–II and pygidium. Epidermal glands small, dot-shaped, arranged in four complete transverse rows per trunk segment. Clitellum (Figure 5B) slightly elevated (30 μm), interrupted ventrally except immediately behind male openings in XII where a strip of both hyaline and granular cells occurs; both types of gland cells small, 12–18 by 8–12 μm, arranged in indefinite rows, the granular type twice as numerous as the hyaline type. Subneural glands on nerve cord midventral in IV (Figure 5B) and in XIII–XV, located either at the segment equator, or between the ventral chaetal bundles, or in the intersegment. Sometimes also a papilla midventral at 12/13. Head pore at 0/1, oval (50 μm long). Dorsal pores from VII. Spermathecal pores in ‘lateral lines’ at 4/5, surrounded by glandular epidermis. Male pores as I-shaped longitudinal slits, with distinct, asymmetrical, transverse extensions. Chaetae weakly hooked entally, 4÷7 – 6÷2: 4÷7 – 6÷2, but specimens with maximally six chaetae in preclitellar bundles are very frequent. Caudal bundles reducing to two or three chaetae only in last 10 segments. In fixed specimens, ectal tips of chaetae pointing posteriorly in anterior 25 segments, thereafter showing the opposite orientation. Length of chaetae maximal caudally, reaching 120–150 μm. Cuticle thin, less than 2 μm thick throughout. Body wall thick but soft and relatively transparent. No thickened septa. Brain (Figure 5A) oval, with shallow anterior convexity, in vivo 190–204 by 135–146 μm. Peptonephridia ending in VI or VII, each consisting of a stout stem giving off many thin, long, equal-sized, straight branches at two distinct levels, proximally (or at midlength) and terminally (type c sensu Nielsen and Christensen, 1959) (Figure 6D). Pharyngeal glands four pairs, three of which partly merging dorsally at 4/5–6/7, plus extra lobes ventral in VII (Figure 6A). Five pairs of preclitellar nephridia (6/7–10/11), with efferent ducts arising antero- to midventrally from postseptal. Coelomocytes: nucleated cells in vivo opaque when accumulated, filled with fine pale granules, up to 50–60 μm long, with very small nucleus; anucleate corpuscles small, 5–10 μm long. The worms discharge abundant coelomic fluid that coagulates at fixation. Chloragogen cells from V. Chylus cells in XIII–XV or XIII–1/2XVI. Ventral intestinal ridge not clearly visible. Dorsal vessel most frequently originating in XVIII–XX, with four pairs of thin lateral commissures: two starting from a common root in III, one in IV and one in V. Seminal vesicle occupying 2–3 segments within X–XIII (Figure 5C), forming paired bulgings at both ends. Sperm funnels (Figure 5C) elongate conical, tapering toward vas deferens, each 600–900 μm long and 180–250 μm broad in its proximal one-third (which in vivo appears opaque). Collar distinctly set off, 7 μm high, slightly narrower or as wide as funnel. Heads of spermatozoa about 130 μm long. Vasa deferentia 11 μm thick in vivo. Each penial bulb 150–170 μm long (fixed). Up to two eggs mature. Spermathecae (Figure 6A–C) independently communicating with the dorsal side of gut entally at 5/6; ampulla elongate with two stalked diverticula (resembling big toes) apically converging toward the ectal duct. Total width of ampulla and diverticula 204–235 μm. Each diverticulum 83–105 μm wide, ending with a large hemispherical (toe-nail shaped) sperm chamber (Figure 6B, C). Inner wall of ampulla pimpled throughout. Inner wall of diverticula not ciliated. Sperm mass not rotating inside the diverticula. Ectal duct 500–550 μm long (1.5–2 times the ampulla) and only 25–30 μm thick in vivo; duct canal straight, of uniform width (2.5 μm); duct projecting into ampulla as a broad bulb lined by tall cells. Some small, indistinct gland cells at spermathecal ectal pores. Remarks This species has been earlier (Rota 1995) confounded under the name of F. polychaeta Bretscher augm. Southern (1907). After the improved characterization and recognition of the latter taxon as a new distinct species, F. healyae, by Schmelz (2003), and following personal observations on Swedish material of F. healyae (see Erséus et al. 2005), I was able to separate the Italian material compiled in Rota (1995) into specimens belonging to F. healyae (sample from site Tuscany 17) and specimens belonging to the present new species (all remaining Tuscan samples). In F. healyae the clitellum is girdle-shaped and the gland cells are arranged to form an irregular honeycomb tiling, with a ratio between hyaline and granular cells of 1:4 (pers. obs.). In F. bargaglii sp. nov. the two types of cells occur with a ratio of about 1:2 and the clitellum is nearly absent ventrally. Other important differences from F. healyae are the two-level branching of peptonephridia, the always welldeveloped seminal vesicle, the extra pair of pharyngeal glands in VII, the many subneural glands and the absence of inner ciliation in the spermathecal diverticula. F. bargaglii sp. nov. differs from F. polychaeta Bretscher, 1900 as originally defined (whether or not one accepts the latter as a valid taxon), by its brain shape, the number of pharyngeal glands, the origin of the dorsal vessel, and the habitat (unlike F. bargaglii sp. nov., both F. healyae and F. polychaeta appear to be associated with wet soils). Distribution Apparently endemic to Tuscany, associated with neutral soils. Recent studies (Rota et al. 2013, 2014) have confirmed the abundance of this species in urban (Villa Patrizia, plots S2 and S3) and suburban (Belcaro) districts in Siena.Published as part of Rota, Emilia, 2015, Five new species of Enchytraeidae (Annelida: Clitellata) from Mediterranean woodlands of Italy and reaffirmed validity of Achaeta etrusca, Fridericia bulbosa and F. miraflores, pp. 1987-2020 in Journal of Natural History 49 (33) on pages 2001-2005, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2015.1009514, http://zenodo.org/record/399798
Analisi economica degli usi alternativi del tabacco
No full textCon la riforma dell'organizzazione comune di mercato (OCM), attuata con il Regolamento (CE) n. 864 del 29 aprile 2004, la politica Comunitaria del settore Tabacco è stata profondamente modificata suscitando forti preoccupazioni tra gli operatori in ragione del programmato ridimensionamento dell'aiuto alla produzione. A partire dal 2006 i regimi di aiuto hanno mutato la loro funzione di sostegno alla produzione a favore di un pagamento unico disaccoppiato per azienda. Per agevolare l'adeguamento alle nuove politiche di settore sono state adottate linee di ricerca per indagare possibili strategie di adattamento produttivo, in particolare usi alternativi del tabacco, per quegli agricoltori che non avranno più convenienza ad operare nel settore tabacchi colo . Per raggiungere questi obiettivi si è proceduto attraverso due stadi successivi di analisi. Nella prima parte sono stati calcolati i costi di produzione ed i redditi aziendali delle diverse tipologie di aziende tabacchi cole e valutate, in termini di redditività economica, le conseguenze dell'entrata in vigore, a pieno regime, della riforma PAC nell'anno 2010, quando cesseranno gli aiuti al tabacco. Nella seconda parte si è valutato come le aziende agricole potranno integrarsi nel nuovo assetto di filiera determinato dai suoi usi alternativi sia in termini economici che tecnico - organizzativi, considerando la inclusione delle aziende agricole in filiere agro-industriali diverse da quelle attuali, sia rispetto ai prodotti finali che ai processi produttivi ed alle relazioni contrattuali. I risultati evidenziano che i margini aziendali, in funzione dei cambiamenti legati all'introduzione a pieno regime, nel 2010, del meccanismo di pagamento unico per azienda subiranno un crollo in tutte le tipologie esaminate, anche nelle realtà più "efficienti"
Sustainable Relations in International Development Cooperation Projects: The Role of Human Resource Management and Organizational Climate
No full textThe importance of organizational issues to assess the success of international development project has not been
fully considered yet. An analysis of the literature on the project success definition, focused on the success
criteria and success factors, was carried out by surveying the contribution of different authors and approaches.
Traditionally projects were perceived as successful when they met time, budget and performance goals,
assuming a basic similarity among projects (universalistic approach). However, starting from a non‐universalistic
approach, the importance of organization’s effectiveness, in terms of relations sustainability, emerged as a
dimension able to define and assess a project success (Belassi W., Tukel O.I., 1996). Based on previous research
contributions on the factors influencing the relations between organizations (Zanasi C., Rota C., 2009), the paper
expands the analysis of the influence of human resource management on organizational climate that, in turn,
influences the relation sustainability between project manager and project team involved in international
cooperation for development. A detailed analysis of these relations is provided and a research hypothesis are
built. A questionnaire on previous contributions was adapted to collect data for a Structural Equation Modelling
(SEM) analysis. Five dimensions of organizational climate (Zeitz G. et al., 1997) (trust, communication,
innovation, job challenge, social cohesion), four dimensions of human resource management (Snell S.A., Dean
J.W, 1992) (staff recruitment, training, performance appraisal, reward system) and two dimension for
sustainable relations (Fisher C., Reynolds N., 2008) (relations quality and strength) are reported and measured
by using a 5 point Likert scale. The sample size is still in progress. The first results on internal consistency
reliability coefficients (Cronbach’s alpha) are satisfactory
EFFECTS OF SEMINAL PLASMA AND 3 EXTENDERS ON CANINE SEMEN STORED AT 4-DEGREES-C
No full textSemen preservation and artificial insemination (Al) in the canine has become a common practice in veterinary medicine. Chilled dog semen is easy to handle, and several extenders can be used. The aim of this study was to compare the effects on canine spermatozoa of seminal plasma and 3 extenders commonly used for chilled semen preservation in clinical practice. The characteristics evaluated were sperm motility; velocity; plasma membrane status (assessed with a fluorescence staining technique and hypo-osmotic swelling test); acrosome morphology; semen pH; and semen osmolarity. These criteria were monitored daily in the ejaculates of ii dogs. The ejaculates were divided into 4 aliquots. Each aliquot was extended in autologous seminal plasma, egg-yolk Tris, egg-yolk milk or egg-yolk cream and preserved at 4 degrees C for 4 d. In 10 of 11 semen samples extended in autologous seminal plasma, motility had already decreased to 0% by Day 2, and the percentage of spermatozoa with intact membranes was lower than in the 3 extenders (P0.05). Egg-yolk Tris extender seems to be superior to the other extenders tested, to preserve dog semen at 4 degrees C, although differences were not significant for all the parameters
Free integro-differential algebras and Groebner-Shirshov bases
No full textThe notion of commutative integro-differential algebra was introduced for the algebraic study of boundary problems for linear ordinary differential equations. Its noncommutative analog achieves a similar purpose for linear systems of such equations. In both cases, free objects are crucial for analyzing the underlying algebraic structures, e.g. of the (matrix) functions.
In this paper we apply the method of Groebner-Shirshov bases to construct the free (noncommutative) integro-differential algebra on a set. The construction is from the free Rota-Baxter algebra on the free differential algebra on the set modulo the differential Rota-Baxter ideal generated by the noncommutative integration by parts formula. In order to obtain a canonical basis for this quotient, we first reduce to the case when the set is finite. Then in order to obtain the monomial order needed for the Composition-Diamond Lemma, we consider the free Rota-Baxter algebra on the truncated free differential algebra. A Composition-Diamond Lemma is proved in this context, and a Groebner-Shirshov basis is found for the corresponding differential Rota-Baxter ideal
Relazioni entro e tra imprese: un approccio teorico unificato
No full textScopo del presente lavoro è contribuire alla costruzione di un approccio teorico che delinei le dinamiche ed i meccanismi di relazione intra e tra imprese, in particolare del settore agroindustriale. Attraverso una rassegna della letteratura in materia di Supply Chain Management (SCM), sistemi locali di impresa, (cluster, distretti), reti di conoscenza e teoria delle organizzazioni, sono stati identificati i fattori che influenzano le relazioni tra i membri e le funzioni interne all'impresa e le relazioni che essa intrattiene con l'ambiente economico, sociale ed istituzionale in cui opera. Tali fattori sono stati riorganizzati in uno schema teorico che collega organicamente le dinamiche relazionali interne ed esterne all'impresa. Futuri sviluppi di ricerca dovranno definire gli indicatori delle variabili quali-quantitative che influenzano le relazioni individuate ed il metodo analitico idoneo a rappresentare la struttura dell'assunto teorico proposto e valutarlo empiricamente
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